Charleston Events

Spoleto Festival USA - one of the world's major performing arts
festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian
Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due
Mondi (the Festival of Two Worlds) in Spoleto, Italy. The annual 17-day
event showcases both established and emerging artists in more than 120
performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music and jazz.

The city of Charleston is located just south of the mid-point of South
Carolina's coastline. Charleston is a major tourist destination, with a
considerable number of luxury hotels, hotel chains, inns, and bed and
breakfasts and a large number of award-winning restaurants and quality
shopping.

The city is well-known for its streets lined with grand live oaks draped with
Spanish moss, and the ubiquity of the Cabbage Palmetto, which is the state tree
of South Carolina. Along the waterfront in an area known as Rainbow Row are many
beautiful and historic pastel-colored homes.

Terminal Information

Location

The Port of Charleston’s Cruise Passenger Terminal is located in downtown
Charleston in the heart of the historic district and within two miles of
both Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 17. The Union Pier Terminal Main Gate
will be your entry point. The address of Union Pier is 32 Washington Street.

A well-appointed Visitor Center is Available nearby, as well as many
local tour services that will appeal to every interest.

Parking Information

Long-term vehicle storage is available on Port property for cruise
passengers' vehicles. Reservations are not required.

Vehicle storage is in a controlled access area available to cruise
passengers - not the general public. The site is secured and patrolled by
the Port Police during the cruise.

Cash, traveler's checks or personal checks are the current accepted forms of
payment. Checks should be made payable to the S. C. State Ports Authority.
Checks written on non-U.S. banks and financial institutions are not
accepted.
A color-coded claim ticket will be given to the driver when payment is
received. The color-coded ticket will help identify the storage area on the
return date.

Port Transportation

A complimentary shuttle service operates between the vehicle storage
areas and the Passenger Terminal. The areas are just a few minutes from the
Passenger Terminal, but the shuttle provides a comfortable way for
passengers to arrive at the check-in location. Handicap accessible shuttles
are also available.

Things to do in the area

Most everything is within easy walking distance from the Port. The
passenger terminal is literally in the city's Historic District and only two
blocks from Charleston's famous public market. A well-appointed Visitor
Center is Available nearby, as well as many local tour services that will
appeal to every interest.

Downtown Gateway Walk

Rainbow Row

An area along the waterfront referred to
as Rainbow Row for the pastel colors used to paint all of the houses. The
houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliot St. on East Bay
Street. It is It is a common tourist attraction and is one of the most
photographed parts of Charleston.

Mount Pleasant

News

Charleston Port Construction Remains Stalled

posted January 6, 2014

Environmental, neighborhood, and community groups continue to challenge
the construction of a $35 million cruise terminal in Charleston, South
Carolina. The State Ports Authority first proposed the cruise terminal four
years ago. Read more...